-
Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Western Bulldogs forward Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is on the way
Josh Schache has played just two games this year, and the reason he has fallen out of favour has been laid bare. But what will the Western Bulldogs forward line of the future look like with the next Lance Franklin joining them?
For a second it sounded like Western Bulldogs football director Chris Grant was describing Nick Riewoldt.
“He’s a fantastic endurance runner,” Grant said.
“He’s got beautiful hands (and) he kicks the ball magnificently — both in field kicking and at goal.
“There’s no doubt athletically, and ability, and skill, and those types of things (he) has in spades.”
Instead Grant was talking about Josh Schache, and the appraisal came on SEN pre-game radio in Round 6.
Schache had just been dropped after Jacob Weitering, the only player selected before him in the 2015 draft, kept the former Brisbane Lion to two disposals in Round 5.
Schache has not played since, and Grant provided a stunning insight as to why the Bulldogs had cooled on him.
“The physical nature of the game tests you out,” Grant said.
“He’s got to work through that ability to work off his opponent and be aggressive, both in the air and when he needs to be against his opponent.
“That’s the challenge for him.”
Schache is 23 with 68 goals from 56 matches. It would be understandable if Grant’s patience wore thin quicker than most, given the Daylesford boy booted 51 goals as a 17-year-old in his debut AFL season.
But Grant said in his day defenders were the “triers” — players with more heart than athleticism — whereas now that has flipped.
“They don’t give you a chance — so if you don’t take up the physical nature of the game it’s going to be pretty difficult,” he said.
Coach Luke Beveridge has gone all-in on the Aaron Naughton-Josh Bruce partnership, with the Dogs thrilled that Geelong’s defenders didn’t take a single intercept mark in their forward line in Round 15.
“We”ve been over the moon with the contest our bigger forwards have given us,” Beveridge said.
Schache is unquestionably talented. But after listening to Grant and Beveridge it is also clear where he stands in the selection queue.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan — the 194cm teenager with a habit of jumping on people’s heads in games — is about to jump into that queue when he is drafted by the Dogs.
“What Jamarra showed at training looked very impressive,” Naughton said from Ugle-Hagan’s stint over summer.
“He’s obviously super athletic and his leap and speed is something a lot of players aren’t gifted with.
“He’s someone that’s very professional, doing extras with craft and at such a young age he wasn’t embarrassed to ask questions of coaches.
“Hopefully we get him and then up forward it might be a pretty nice time.”
Recruiters reckon the Naughton-Ugle-Hagan partnership will be perfect for modern football.
“They’re two forwards who are mobile and come to the ball … it’s going to be fantastic,” one expert said.
“You can’t have a forward with a lack of mobility anymore, where if you don’t mark it you’re out of the game and you can’t put on defensive pressure.
“You want those hot balls, but when the ball hits the ground you’re back on to it.
“To have two of those with the way they attack the ball in the air, it means you just don’t get out-marked in your forward 50m.”
The Bulldogs give up 5.3 intercept marks on average in their forward 50m this season, ranked 15th, albeit by a narrow margin.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is the Hampden boy and Scotch College student who Bulldogs fans can get excited out.
Perhaps when Ugle-Hagan and Naughton are firing it’ll be closer to clubhouse leader West Coast’s 4.1 in an area Beveridge rates.
Ugle-Hagan hasn’t played this year.
But even the way the mercurial left-footer read the flight of the ball at Paul Connors’ draft camp on the Mornington Peninsula recently dropped jaws.
Not so long ago it was Schache who was setting tongues wagging.
The likeable boy from Seymour is contracted until 2022 and still has plenty of time to prove himself by growing the aggressive streak that Grant has asked for.
Things can change quickly in football.
In 2017, minutes after Schache became a Bulldog, Grant was asked whether Tom Boyd and he could coexist.
“We see a great combination between both those players, but also ‘Roughy’ (Jordan Roughead) in the ruck, so we’re really well placed,” Grant said.
Boyd has retired, Roughead is playing full-back for Collingwood and Schache is playing scratch matches because Bruce and key defender Naughton arrived ... and Ugle-Hagan is on the way.
Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"
-
Post Thanks / Like - 4 Thanks, 1 Likes
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Will JUH make a quick impact as he has had basically a year off football. We might not see him in action until late into next season if at all depending on how outside influences go.
With Schache if he was told last year he needed to be more aggressive or assertive in the contest and this hasn't come through so may be that's the clutch of the matter and scratch matches can't give him the necessary environment to practice his aggression.
Don't piss off old people
The older we get the less "LIFE IN PRISON" is a deterrent...
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Originally Posted by
Hotdog60
Will JUH make a quick impact as he has had basically a year off football. We might not see him in action until late into next season if at all depending on how outside influences go.
With Schache if he was told last year he needed to be more aggressive or assertive in the contest and this hasn't come through so may be that's the clutch of the matter and scratch matches can't give him the necessary environment to practice his aggression.
We shouldn't be putting too many expectations of Ugle-Hagan next year. He has missed a lot of development this year
Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"
-
Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 2 Likes
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Even if Jamarra needs a season or two to acclimate which you'd assume is highly likely, there's still no role for Schache.
But there's a few clubs currently undertaking some deep Spring cleaning that'd have some interest you'd think.
BORDERLINE FLYING
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
I wouldn't give up on Josh just yet. I would also like him to train with the defenders over summer. You never know...
-
Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 3 Likes
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
The plus with no games for Jamarra is he has had the chance to build his body in the gym and watch and learn what the clubs roles and game plan is for him and learn running patterns etc.
And no injury !
Bring back the biff
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
With Jamarra having been on our radar for the last few years, the media and a lot of our supporters are going to be expecting a lot. Definitely the most anticipated arrival for a long time. No pressure mate...
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
I really hope Schache can get his mongrel going. He has the attributes that Grant mentioned that we could use. We know that knows how to kick goals in the big league which isn't very easy, it's just his timid nature holding him back. He's such a beautiful kick of the ball either field kicking or goal kicking. I'm actually shocked when he misses one.
3 pronged forward lines aren't common because of ball retention inside 50 but if JUH is good defensively when the ball hits the ground like Naughton and Schache can grow that side of his game some what then maybe there's a future for him at Whitten oval.
The only other role I see for Josh if JUH comes along as we hope is a high half forward using his good tank getting up the ground. Again though he has to be stronger in the contest to be able to take more contested marks or he won't last at the top level.
Its frustrating really because the same issues that were apparent when he first arrived are the same issues holding him back now.
They've done studies you know, 60% of the time, it works every time!
Brian Fantana.
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Maybe Josh just doesn’t have it in him?
I will never see #16 the same!!
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Originally Posted by
Bulldog4life
I wouldn't give up on Josh just yet. I would also like him to train with the defenders over summer. You never know...
maybe he needs to ask Liam Jones what he did to turn the corner ? Carlton were about to give up on him and throwing him back was the last option before delisting . Liam now has become a highly valued player in their team
Instead of the disdain he use to cop from the carlton fans
I would be sad to give up on a talent like schache where he has not achieved his potential
-
Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 1 Likes
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Originally Posted by
ledge
The plus with no games for Jamarra is he has had the chance to build his body in the gym and watch and learn what the clubs roles and game plan is for him and learn running patterns etc.
And no injury !
Recent photos indicate he's been doing just that. Even the photos from the start of this year to the past few weeks look substantially different.
He may take a little time but could be playing a Bailey Dale type role at the end of next year. He's probably a few years off playing as a legitimate KPF though.
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Premiers
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Schache v Wallis is a classic comparison. The former gifted with skills and an ideal frame, the latter not highly skilled but with a magnificent character that gets the best from himself.
Forget JUH next year, it is Schache who has the chance to impact. Or even these finals with all our forwards under a cloud atm. Maybe Schache would agree to an ECT because at this point it seems like a Stringer moment; Josh pull the finger out or Bevo will counsel you as you leave.
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Originally Posted by
macca
maybe he needs to ask Liam Jones what he did to turn the corner ? Carlton were about to give up on him and throwing him back was the last option before delisting . Liam now has become a highly valued player in their team
Instead of the disdain he use to cop from the carlton fans
I would be sad to give up on a talent like schache where he has not achieved his potential
I was thinking of Jones when I posted it.
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
I’d be sad too. Was very happy we got him. Such a lovely kick for goal. Hope he stays on our list next year and turns it around.
-
Re: Josh Schache has fallen down coach Luke Beveridge’s pecking order
Originally Posted by
josie
I’d be sad too. Was very happy we got him. Such a lovely kick for goal. Hope he stays on our list next year and turns it around.
Me too. I don't think the hub life would have been the best for Josh. He was initially keen to get into Victoria from Brisbane Lions to be close to his parents and family. Hopefully next year with the VFL back he will get the opportunity to show that he can do what Bevo wants....in the firsts or seconds on a weekly basis.